Reclining chair



J. G. RIDEOUT RECLINING CHAIR Feb 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March5, 1947 l Nb 1N VEN TOR.

JUHN E.

Emma? is? I 921% Q J. G. RIDEOUT- RECLINING CHAIR Feb. 13, 1951 2,Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3', 1947 INVENTOR. JUHN 5. Emmy? PatentedFeb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT B Q INING CHALK:

John Gordon Ridpollt, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, as-

signor to Gendron Wheel- Compan-y. Perrysbnrg, Obie ac rporetinn of MainApplication March 3, 1941. SerialNo. 132,0{13

4 C aims, 1:

This invention relatesto chairs, but partic" ularly to a chair inwhich.thebackand seat frames are adjustable, thereby to: enhance its comfortand usefulness.

An object is to produce a chair in which. the back and seat aresuspended in a novel manner from a spring support so that the resilienceof the support is employed to the fullest advantage.

Another object isto so mount the back and seat frames that adjustment ofone automatically imparts predetermined movement tov the other, therebyto increa e the comfort to the occupant.

A further object is to produce a chair having a back, seat and leg restso conjoined that these parts move together in a predetermined mannerbetween a reclining position and upright position.

A still further object is to produce a chair in which the back issuspended from said supporting frames in a novel manner and in which theseat is suspended from the back frame and side frames. a leg frame beingarticulated to. the seat suspending means in such mannerthat shifting ofthe seat. imparts raising or lowerin movements to the leg rest.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment ofthe invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a side perspective view of the chair in upright position;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the chair in the position shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view showing the chair in recliningposition;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view showing frag- -ments of the parts toillustrate the mounting of the seat, back and leg rest of thearticulated connection between certain of the parts.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a chair having asupporting frame consisting of a pair of laterally spaced substantiallyC-shaped cantilever spring members I!) formed of metal tubing. Eachcantilever spring member has an upper horizontally disposed arm Ifla,the rear end portion of which is free and,

as shown, curves downwardly. A vertical front 1 portion lllb is integralat its upper end with the horizontal arm portion lfla and at its lowerportion with a horizontally disposed foot portion N10. The rear ends ofthe foot portion I00 are connected by a tube lfld and the forward por- 2tions of the feet Inc are secured by a substantially U-shaped tube me,which spaces the front end portion of the frame slightly from thesupporting surface.

Positioned between the arms [Ila of the cantilever supporting frame is aback H which consists of an arched metal tubular member He, the lowerends of which are joined by a horizontal tube lib. The, opposite ends ofthe tube Hb project outwardly a short distance beyond the arched memberHa providing extensions Hc. Rigid with each extension is a forwardlyandupwardly bent suspending arm or hangerl2, forming substantially theletter J, the upper end of the arm I2 being pivotally connected to theadjacent frame, ann um at H. Boltedto each frame, arm 19a is an arm restM which may be of wood; or other suitable material and covers the majorportion of the same.

From the above. description, it will be apparent that the back ispivotally connected to the spring arms ma at forwardly spaced, pointsand the back is. in effect, suspended; from the spring arms. Themounting of the back is such that it tends to rock rearwardly or towarda reclining position such as shown in Figure 3.

The seat frame is made up of a substantially rectangular frame ll ofmetal tubing. Secured by screws to each side of the frame I! is abracket l9 in the form of a metal strip, the rear end 20 of whichinclines upwardly and rearwardly and is pivotally connected at 2| to alower rearwardly disposed portion of the adjacent J arm [2. The frontend portion of each bracket strip l9 has an upwardly curved portion 22somewhat shorter than the end portion 20, and is pivotally connected at23 to an intermediate portion of a vertically disposed arm 24. The upperend of each arm 24 is pivoted to the adjacent cantilever spring arm I 0aat a point forwardly of the J arm pivot l3. Each arm 24 is generallyC-shaped with the upper end portion reversely or forwardly curved andthe pivotal connection 23 arranged slightly below the center of the arm.Each arm 24 depends below the seat frame I! and pivoted to the lower endof each arm is a forwardly extending link 25, the front end of which ispivoted to a substantially U-shaped tubular leg rest 26 adjacent itspivotal connection to the end portions of the frame l1. It will beobserved that the back frame H and seat frame I! are provided withsuitable spring cushion elements 21.

Pivoted to each cantilever spring arm Illa on the same pivot pin towhich the lever 24 is connected, is a rod 28 which inclines rearwardlyand extends through a split sleeve 29 for sliding movement. The sleeve29 has pivotal movement upon a bolt 30 which extends through the J arml2 from which it is spaced by a sleeve 3|. A hand wheel 32 on the bolt30 enables the split sleeve 29 to be tightened securely upon the rod 28,thereby to secure and retain the parts in the selected position ofadjustment.

From the above description, it will be understood that by loosening thehand wheels 32, the chair may be adjusted to any selected positionbetween an upright position shown in Figure 1 and a fully recliningposition shown in Figure 3. This can be accomplished by the occupantleaning back against the back frame ll, whereupon the seat frame isautomatically shifted forwardly to an inclined position with the frontend portion tilted upwardly. At the same time, due to the articulatedconnection which includes arms 24 and links 25, the leg rest 26 is swungupwardly. After the desired amount of reclining movement has beenachieved, by tightening the hand wheels 32, the chair will remain in theadjusted position. It will also be understood that by loosening the handwheels 32 and by the person leaning forwardly, the parts will return totheir normal upright sitting position.

One particular advantage of the above construction lies in the manner inwhich the back frame, seat frame and leg rest are connected foreffecting the desired movement with a minimum of effort. The upwardtilting of the seat as indicated particularly on Figures 3 and 5contributes materially to the comfort of the occupant. The chair has theadvantage of the resiliency or springiness of the cantilever springframes as will be manifest and this, coupled with the spring structureof the back and seat, together with the usual upholstered cushions,contribute to the comfort of the occupant.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operationmay be effected without departing from the spirit of the inventionespecially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A chair comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames, eachhaving a horizontally disposed arm portion, a back frame comprising asubstantially inverted U-shaped member disposed between said side framesand having at each of the lower ends thereof a substantially J -shapedhanger extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom and thence generallyupwardly, a pivotal connection between the upper end of each hanger andthe adjacent frame arm portion, a seat frame, and means for connectingsaid seat frame to said hangers and said frame arm portions.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1, in which the side frames constitutecantilever spring members.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 2, in which said connection between theseat frame and said hangers is located at an intermediate point on thelower end of said hangers.

4. In a. chair as claimed in claim 2, a rod pivoted to each horizontalarm portion forwardly of the pivotal connection between the upper end ofeach hanger and the adjacent free arm portion, said rods respectivelyextending "generally downwardly and rearwardly from said horizontal armportions and crossing the generally upwardly-extending portions of saidJ-shaped hangers, and manually releasable rod-gripping means on thegenerally upwardly-extending portions of said J-shaped hangers formaintaining said back frame in selected positions of angularity withrespect to said arm portions.

JOHN GORDON RIDE-OUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 364,732 Santee June 14, 1887403,318 Arnold May 14, 1889 2,208,800 Lorenz July 23, 1940 2,353,838Lorenz July 18, 1944

